Read Online Z. Raptor by Steve Cole - Free Book Online

back out into the waters, or else perhaps it had washed in from the open sea.
    Adam heard an earsplitting roar from the outcrop he’d just negotiated as the first raptor made its proximity known. I know how fast they can move on land, he thought . But how fast can they swim? He ran into the ocean, but the water soon slowed his steps, so he dived forward and started swimming for his life with his most powerful front crawl. There was a titanic splash behind him. The raptors were following. Could they swim? He had no idea.
    But he guessed he would find out.
    Breath catching in his throat, salt water burning his eyes, Adam quickened his stroke. If he could only get inside and get the outboard motor started . . .
    He risked a backward glance. Big mistake. The creatures were gaining—their muscular legs powering them through the water. He tried to push himself harder, moaning with fear. Come on. Come on! The orange craft was so close.
    But then suddenly, a throaty, aggressive whine spluttered and rose into the air. The motor, Adam realized, starting by itself . . . ?
    â€œNo!” he screamed with the last of his strength as his only hope began gliding away from him. “Come back!” The crashing in the water behind grew louder, more ferocious. Adam kept swimming, though he knew in his heart now it was hopeless. His arms were starting to cramp. A jet of burning acid spattered the water, a drop landing on his exposed shoulder. He cried out in pain. Flipping onto his back, he found that the two behemoths were almost on top of him, claws clacking, tails thrashing through the water, their jaws gaping open in grisly grins, pushing down toward him, ready to devour.

8
    FINDING HARMONY
    T he triumphant roar of the raptors snatched all other sound away from Adam’s ears. His only warning that a signal flare had been fired was when an explosion of flame and red smoke detonated in the mouth of the nearest monster. The creature fell back, snarling, frothing and choking smoke. Its brother retreated in alarm, hooting and swinging its great, gray head.
    â€œGet in!”
    Adam turned at the shrill call and found the lifeboat had turned back toward him, a dark-skinned girl at the tiller. “Come on,” she urged him, waving the flare gun.
    Whoever she was, she’d saved his life. New hope lending him strength, Adam forced himself to struggle on toward the boat.
    Steering with one hand, the girl reached over the side with the other and took hold of his wrist, towing him away. While the injured raptor bit and snapped at the seawater to extinguish the smoke and fire in its throat, Adam saw the other raptor gnashing its overgrown teeth in frustration—eager to kill but afraid of the fire. It opened its jaws, and a loud, grating groan channeled from its throat.
    Adam could have sobbed with relief as they powered out of range of the killers, moving westward until they’d left the stretch of beach behind. It felt so good to be just pulled along through the warm water, a passive passenger, the girl’s grip on his wrist strong and—
    Then the moment of calm was lost as his rational side took hold in a clamor of questions. “Who are you? I thought this boat was empty. Where did you—?”
    â€œWhoa, there.” She cut the engine and turned to him, offering him her other hand. “You’d better get inside. And then how about you try saying thank you?”
    He gripped hold of her other hand as she helped him clamber over the side, and he splashed down onto the bloodstained wooden floor.
    â€œThanks,” he said with feeling. “You saved my life. I’m sorry I—”
    â€œS’okay,” she said, her voice seasoned with a hard American twang. “Raptors are a good excuse for forgetting your manners. Shame that gun was only packing the one flare, or I’d have given both of them a smoking.” She paused. “I’m Harm.”
    He looked at her